US Airstrike Kills Al-Shabaab Terrorist in Somalia

A targeted airstrike conducted by the United States African Command (AFRICOM) in Southern Somalian town of Jilib killed one al-Shabaab terrorist on Sunday.

A statement released by the AFRICOM Director of Operations, Maj. Gen. William Gayler said the airstrike was conducted in coordination with the threatened Somali federal government which is backed by the African Union and the international community.

“In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting an al-Shabaab terrorist in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, Feb. 2,” said part of the statement.

He added that the liquidation of the single target, which happened only two weeks after similar killing of two militants in lower Shabelle region on January 17^th 2020, makes the troubled Horn of African nation safer.

“Al-Shabaab is an al-Qaeda affiliate seeking to further its jihadist agenda. Removal of even one terrorist makes the region and the U.S. safer,” said Maj. Gen. Gayler.

The AFRICOM commander noted that more actions against the Islamist jihadist group is inevitable to avert their brutal attacks.

“Continuous pressure on the network is necessary to prevent al-Shabaab from building a safe haven and exporting violence,” he noted.

No civilian casualty was reported in the targeted airstrike.

“Initial assessment concluded the airstrike killed one (1) terrorist. We currently assess no civilians were injured or killed as a result of this airstrike,” he noted.

AFRICOM, he said, will continue to work with its partners to transfer the responsibility for long-term security in Somalia to the Federal Government of Somalia and its Member States.

“In support of the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces will use all effective and appropriate methods to assist in the protection of the Somali people, including partnered military counterterrorism operations with the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali National Army forces,” he concluded.

The increased pressure on al-Shabaab, follows the group’s daring attack on a U.S military facility in the neighboring Kenya on January 5 2020 killing two Americans including a soldier.